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Did we build the UK's first 6502-based "microcontroller"?

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 4:16 pm
by graeme.harker

Re: Did we build the UK's first 6502-based "microcontroller"

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 4:48 pm
by drogon
graeme.harker wrote:
https://youtu.be/u8-5uVGugdA
PWM dimming... That must have been fun! Did your system go anywhere?

Not sure about it being the first though as I know of a Northstar Horizon system (Z80, N* DOS) doing some industrial control at the same time and it has being tested against an Acorn System 1 too. (I latterly replaced all that with BBC Micros and in-house 6502 "PLCs" in about '83) and in 1980 I took over the software for an existing 8080 system that was controlling a blood analysis machine... but yours might possibly the first one to gain nationwide recognition!

I wonder if they would they allow 240v mains control from a computer in a school today... ?

Cheers,

-Gordon

Re: Did we build the UK's first 6502-based "microcontroller"

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:01 pm
by BigEd
Well done Graeme! Indeed, the connecting of mains power and multi-kilowatt loads to the delicate side of an expensive PET shows a healthy level of trust and confidence.

I see at least three of the teams that year had a PET in play:
YSY80-Bexhill.png
YSY80-Orange-Hill.png
YSY80-RGS-winners.png
Screen shots from the final, part 1 and part 3.